Senior Network Services Architect

Leidos Inc; Bethesda (MD); Hybrid; USD 108,000 - 195,000; Full time

Job summary

Leidos is seeking a Sr Network Services Architect to own the design, engineering, and technical direction of FDA network infrastructure, including LAN/WAN, SD-WAN, and cloud connectivity across on-premise and cloud environments. The role requires overseeing network modernization, load balancing, and UC services while coordinating with contractors and internal teams.

Candidates must have 8+ years in network architecture and relevant certifications, with US citizenship and ability to obtain a

Qualifications

• Bachelor's degree and 8+ years of progressive network engineering/architecture experience.
• 3-5 years in a senior architect or technical lead role on large enterprise networks.
• Hands-on architecture across LAN/WAN and cloud connectivity in a multi-site environment.
• Strong knowledge of connecting on-premise data centers to public cloud providers (AWS/Azure/GCP).
• Experience with network monitoring tools and capacity planning for enterprise networks.
• CCNP or equivalent senior-level network certification; U.S. citizenship and ability to obtain a Public Trust.

Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical architect for enterprise data network and UC services.
• Lead network design, engineering, release management, testing, and deployment activities.
• Architect connectivity, routing, and security between FDA data centers and cloud landing zones.
• Own the technical roadmap for network modernization and refresh policies.
• Provide oversight of network operations, monitoring, patching, and incident management.
• Coordinate with contractors and vendors to ensure end-to-end service delivery.
• Mentor Network Engineers and support transitions to Managed Services.

Skills

LAN/WAN architecture

Network monitoring

SD-WAN

Load balancing

Documentation

Cloud integration

Collaboration/communication

Capacity planning

Education

Bachelor's degree

CCNP certification (or equivalent)

Tools

SolarWinds

Cisco DNA Center

Cacti

AWS networking

Azure networking

Google Cloud Platform networking

Job description

Description

At Leidos, we deliver innovative solutions through the efforts of our diverse and talented people who are dedicated to our customers' mission success. We empower our teams, contribute to our communities, and operate sustainable practices. Our Mission, Vision, and Values guide the way we do business. Our workforce enjoys career enrichment opportunities available through mobility and development, while experiencing rewarding relationships with supportive supervisors and talented colleagues and customers. Your most important work is ahead.

If this sounds like the kind of environment where you can thrive, then keep reading becauseLeidos is seeking a qualified Sr Network Services Architect to support a proposed large-scale, transformational IT infrastructure program. The successful candidate will serve as the senior technical authority for Task Area 2 (Network Services), owning the design, engineering, and technical direction of FDA's wired and wireless LAN (Office, Data Center, Lab, and Campus LAN), WAN (Private IP Service and SD-WAN), third-party/cloud connectivity (site-to-site VPN, MAN, Trusted Internet Circuit), unified communications, load balancing, and related network infrastructure

*This position isonsite /hybrid remote. Candidates will need to be locatedwithin the DMV area near Bethesda, MD, and Gaithersburg MD.

Key Responsibilities

• Serve as the senior technical architect for enterprise Data Network and Communication Services, including wired/wireless LAN (Office-LAN, Data Center-LAN, Lab-LAN, Campus-LAN, Cloud Networks), WAN (Private IP Service and Managed SD-WAN), and third-party/cloud connectivity (site-to-site VPN, MAN connectivity, Trusted Internet Circuit).


• Lead network design and engineering activities supporting enhancements, increments, and modifications to the existing environment; oversee release management, testing, and deployment activities for host servers and virtual clients during operational upgrades.


• Architect and continuously optimize connectivity, routing, and security between FDA's on-premise data centers (White Oak, Ashburn, NCTR) and FDA's AWS, Azure, and Google Cloud Platform landing zones, in direct support of FDA's hybrid multi-cloud migration strategy.


• Own the technical roadmap for network modernization and technology refresh, ensuring network and communications solution components (hardware and software) are upgraded per agreed FDA technology-refresh policy and appropriately licensed.


• Provide senior technical oversight of network operations and administrative services, including monitoring, testing, patching, debugging, repair, and replacement of network appliances and software, and management of session border controllers (SBCs) and isolated lab networks.


• Direct capacity management for FDA's network infrastructure to ensure IT resources are right-sized for current and future business requirements while addressing time-sensitive demands.


• Architect load balancing, domain services (DHCP, external DNS), and monitoring solutions across voice, data, and VPN environments to deliver high availability and optimized network performance for applications and end users.


• Lead modification of network, storage, database, and related infrastructure policies, configurations, and provisions to reflect evolving industry standards and internal FDA policy changes, driving operational efficiency.


• Provide architectural and engineering support for Unified Communications, load balancing, eFax, and Enterprise Network Time Protocol (NTP) services.


• Direct network monitoring and reporting using agreed-upon tools (e.g., SolarWinds, Cisco DNA Center, Cacti) to ensure continuous availability, connectivity, security, and reliability across on-premise and cloud network, data center, compute, and storage resources.


• Lead root-cause and continuous-improvement (CI) efforts on existing network infrastructure, platforms, and processes to maintain relevance, efficiency, and performance as FDA's environment evolves.


• Maintain accurate architectural documentation, current-state/target-state network diagrams, and an accurate inventory of on-premise data center spaces housing network equipment.


• Support annual and ad-hoc network audits to ensure compliance with FDA standards, and support Government data calls related to network technical attributes and financial/hardware details.


• Coordinate with telecommunications contractors, cloud service providers, and other Task Area leads (e.g., Data Center Operations, Cloud & Compute/Storage, Client Advocate/Technical Leads) to ensure integrated, end-to-end service delivery.


• Mentor and provide technical direction to Network Engineers, Administrators, and other Task Area 2 staff; support incident, problem, and service-request management in collaboration with the Help Desk.


• Support the Transition Manager and Program Manager during the three-phase transition (Transition Planning, Transition, Cutover to Managed Services) by validating the as-is network architecture, informing the technical transition plan, and de-risking network cutover activities.

Basic Qualifications

• Bachelors degree and 8+ years of progressive network engineering/architecture experience and Additional years of experience may be considered in lieu of degree.


• 3-5 years in a senior architect or technical lead role on large, enterprise-scale federal or commercial network environments.


• Demonstrated hands-on architecture experience across LAN (wired/wireless), WAN (Private IP Service, SD-WAN), and third-party/cloud connectivity (site-to-site VPN, MAN, Trusted Internet Circuit) in a multi-site enterprise environment.


• Strong working knowledge of connecting and securing on-premise data center networks to public Cloud Service Providers (AWS, Azure, and/or Google Cloud Platform).


• Experience with network monitoring and management tooling (e.g., SolarWinds, Cisco DNA Center/DNAC, Cacti, or equivalent) and with capacity planning for enterprise network infrastructure.


• Demonstrated experience managing multi-site enterprise network environments, including load balancing, DHCP, DNS, unified communications, and network security policy configuration.


• Experience supporting large-scale IT infrastructure technology refresh, upgrade, and lifecycle management activities.


• Strong documentation skills, including development of current-state and target-state network architecture diagrams.


• Excellent collaboration and communication skills, with demonstrated ability to coordinate across cross-functional technical teams, subcontractors, and telecommunications vendors.


• U.S. Citizenship.


• Must have the ability to obtain and maintain a Public Trust.


• Cisco Certified Network Professional (CCNP), current and active - or equivalent senior-level network architecture certification.

Preferred Qualifications

• Cisco Certified Internetwork Expert (CCIE).


• AWS, Azure, or Google Cloud Platform networking-focused certification (e.g., AWS Advanced Networking - Specialty, Azure Network Engineer Associate).


• ITIL Foundation certification (or higher).


• Prior experience directly supporting FDA, another HHS operating division, or a comparable federal health/regulatory science agency.


• Experience with SD-WAN network automation platforms and Zero Trust network architecture concepts.


• Familiarity with ServiceNow or comparable enterprise ITSM platforms for change and incident management.


• Experience supporting isolated lab or scientific-computing network environments.

If you're looking for comfort, keep scrolling. At Leidos, we outthink, outbuild, and outpace the status quo - because the mission demands it. We're not hiring followers. We're recruiting the ones who disrupt, provoke, and refuse to fail. Step 10 is ancient history. We're already at step 30 - and moving faster than anyone else dares.

About Leidos

Leidos is an industry and technology leader serving government and commercial customers with smarter, more efficient digital and mission innovations. Headquartered in Reston, Virginia, with 47,000 global employees, Leidos reported annual revenues of approximately $16.7 billion for the fiscal year ended January 3, 2025. For more information, visit www.Leidos.com.

Pay and Benefits

Pay and benefits are fundamental to any career decision. That's why we craft compensation packages that reflect the importance of the work we do for our customers. Employment benefits include competitive compensation, Health and Wellness programs, Income Protection, Paid Leave and Retirement. More details are available at www.leidos.com/careers/pay-benefits.

Pay Range $107,900.00 - $195,050.00

For U.S. Positions: While subject to change based on business needs, Leidos reasonably anticipates that this job requisition will remain open for at least 3 days with an anticipated close date of no earlier than 3 days after the original posting date as listed above.

Commitment to Non-Discrimination

All qualified applicants will receive consideration for employment without regard to sex, race, ethnicity, age, national origin, citizenship, religion, physical or mental disability, medical condition, genetic information, pregnancy, family structure, marital status, ancestry, domestic partner status, sexual orientation, gender identity or expression, veteran or military status, or any other basis prohibited by law. Leidos will also consider for employment qualified applicants with criminal histories consistent with relevant laws.

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